Sauna is Life
January - April, 2024 | Portland, Oregon
From the start of life to final days, saunas are integral to culture in Finland. Saunas have seen the people of Finland through war, cultural change, and the shift to a digital age. They are an old phenomenon, with their earliest versions believed to be from 7000 BC. This exhibit introduces the tradition of saunas in Finland while exploring their contemporary urbanization.
Scope of Work
Researched, wrote copy for, and designed interpretive panels.
Curated artifacts, displays, video files and demo sauna.
Created a rental contract to bring the exhibit on a national tour starting in 2024.
Click and drag to walk through the virtual exhibit.
Interpretation
To keep with the clean and sleek style of Finnish design, the panels were designed with minimal graphics and an emphasis on photographs.
Books related to the subject matter are a way for visitors to create an intimate experience in the exhibit space. This exhibit featured five books from Finland, Japan, and Canada.
Behind the Scenes
A real sauna was manufactured and built on site for this exhibit.
Artifacts are tangible elements that are critical for allowing visitors to connect to the content of an exhibit. These shoes were actually fished out of a donation bin!